James Beard Semifinalists Revealed

Houston scores big on James Beard semifinalist list

Who will follow Justin Yu as Best Chef: Southwest?

Photo by Misha Govshteyn

Houston's restaurants are well represented on the James Beard Foundation's list of the semifinalists for its 2017 Awards. The awards are considered the Oscars of the culinary world, recognizing chefs, bartenders, restaurant owners, media members and more.

The city is looking to build off the momentum generated from Oxheart chef-owner Justin Yu's win for Best Chef: Southwest in 2016 and Underbelly chef-owner Chris Shepherd's win in 2014. This year's nominees consist of a mix of returning candidates as well as a surprising new entries.

Six Houston chefs from five restaurants will compete for the title this year. That's the most for any Texas city ahead of Dallas (four), Austin, and San Antonio (one each). Hugo Ortega (Hugo's), Manabu Horiuchi (Kata Robata), Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan (The Pass & Provisions) all earned semifinalist nods last year. Anita Jaisinghani earns her first nomination since 2012, but this time it's for casual Pondicheri rather than her fine dining restaurant Indika.

Houston's only first time semifinalist is Jianyun Ye of Mala Sichuan Bistro. Nice to see the Beard voters recognizing that restaurants on Bellaire are just as worthy of recognition as those on Westheimer.

The panel selected William Wright (Helen Greek Food & Wine) for the the Rising Star Chef of the Year category, which is presented to a chef under 30 "who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to make a significant impact on the industry in years to come." Last year, Helen was a semifinalist in the Best New Restaurant category.

Similarly, Ortega's wife and business partner Tracy Vaught has been nominated for the second year in a row in the Outstanding Restaurateur category, along with Ford Fry (State of Grace) and Sam Fox (True Food Kitchen, North Italia). Vaught's restaurant Hugo's has also earned a nomination for Outstanding Service. Finally, Anvil Bar & Refuge is once again a nominee for Outstanding Bar Program.

The foundation will announce the finalists in the various categories on March 15. The awards will be presented on May 1 in Chicago.

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blinded with science

New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

A taste of Manhattan has made its way to Houston with the immersive LIT-Mas Spectacular holiday pop-up. From now until January 12, Houstonians can discover the hype behind New York City’s The Drunken Lab that's known for its unique blend of science and cocktails.

This pop-up marks the first expansion for The Drunken Lab’s parent company, Science and Sip, a concept created to make science accessible and unforgettable. Attendees can dive into holiday-themed science experiments — including explosive endothermic reactions — while enjoying festive cocktails in a winter wonderland setting enhanced with a live DJ. Appropriately, the pop-up is located in the Museum District at 4715 Main Street.

“Houston was the perfect next step for Science and Sip,” founder Cautney Nelson said in a statement. “The city’s vibrant culture, love of celebration, and ties to science through world-famous programs like NASA aligns beautifully with our mission to blend entertainment with discovery.”

Visitors enter a world filled with larger-than-life gingerbread decor and candy-inspired installations where light bulbs and laboratory flasks have been transformed into quirky beverage containers. Admission includes one cocktail or mocktail, a lab coat and goggles, and two to three science experiments. Add-ons like cocktail-filled ornament “Booze Balls” and Grinch-inspired pouches in festive red and green add an extra dose of holiday charm.

“We’re thrilled to host guests for an immersive holiday experience that merges festive fun with curiosity,” Nelson added. “With each pop-up, we aim to create a space where a great party and exploration come together, and we’re excited to see how Houston embraces The LIT-Mas Spectacular.”

A portion of the proceeds from LIT-Mas will benefit Millennial Scnce, a nonprofit founded by Nelson that provides students with accessible STEM resources and educational opportunities.

Tickets are available for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with showtimes at 2:30 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm. Private party and group bookings are also available.

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

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